Mazda CX-7 Towing Capacity

A 2012 Mazda CX-7 has a towing capacity ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds depending on the trim configuration you find.
Written by Pat Roache
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The towing capacity on a used 2012 Mazda CX-7 starts at 1,500 pounds on the i Sport, i SV Sport, and i Touring trims. The s Touring and s Grand Touring trim configurations bump up the CX-7’s towing capacity to a maximum of 2,000 pounds. 
Looking for an affordable car to get to work on the weekdays and tow your toys on the weekends? A new car may not exactly do it for you in the affordability department—luckily, a used car like the CX-7 can handle your light towingneeds and won’t break the bank.
Want to make sure that a used Mazda CX-7 is the right vehicle for you? Here,
car insurance
super app
Jerry
will cover the towing capacity of the Mazda CX-7, the types of loads it's able to haul, and even a quick tip on keeping your
Mazda CX-7 insurance costs
low.
icon
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now

How much can a Mazda CX-7 tow?

Base towing capacity: 1,500 pounds
Maximum towing capacity: 2,000 pounds
Engines: 2.5L inline-4 (161 hp), 2.3L turbocharged inline-4 (244 hp)
A standard SUV can be a bit excessive if you only need to tow a modest load now and then. If that’s the case, a smaller SUV like the Mazda CX-7 may be just the car you need. Depending on the trim, its towing capacity ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds.
The i-level trims—whether it’s the CX-7 i Sport, i SV Sport, or i Touring—feature a 1,500-pound towing capacity. But if you need a bit more power, opt for the CX-7 s Touring or s Grand Touring trims. You’ll pay a little extra, but you’ll have a maximum 2,000-pound towing capacity.
All-wheel drive comes standard on all trims—which is good news for your Mazda’s towing efficiency. The i trims all feature the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine while the s trims have a turbocharged 2.3-liter four cylinder

Trailer hitches for the Mazda CX-7

You may get lucky and find a used Mazda CX-7 with a trailer hitch included. But if not, you can easily find a compatible aftermarket option. Just make sure the hitch has a towing capacity that matches your SUV’s and can fit your CX-7’s hardware. This
CURT Class 2 Trailer Hitch
is a great option. 
icon
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now

How to calculate the towing capacity you need

Before you can be sure if the CX-7 has enough towing capacity to meet your needs, you’ll need to know the weight of the biggest load you plan to carry. There are two important rules to keep in mind when determining the right towing capacity:
  • Your vehicle’s towing capacity should always be greater than the weight of the maximum load you’ll need to tow.
  • The weight of your maximum load should include the weight of your trailering equipment in addition tothe weight of your cargo and passengers.
Feel free to break out the calculator and do your own math, but while you’re here—take a look at some of these common tow loads that you can and can’tcarry with the different trims of the Mazda CX-7.
You can tow these with an i-level trim:
  • Canoe or kayak trailer (400 to 800 pounds)
  • Partially filledsmall open utility trailer (700 to 1,400 pounds—usually 2,500 pounds when fully loaded)
You can tow these with an s-level trim:
  • Jet ski trailer (300 to 1,800 pounds)
  • Partially filled small open utility trailer (700 to 1,800 pounds—usually 2,500 pounds when fully loaded)
You cannot tow these with any Mazda CX-7:
  • Teardrop trailer (1,700 to 2,400 pounds)
  • A-frame camper (1,700 to 2,900 pounds)
  • Pop-up camper (2,300 to 3,400 pounds)
  • Small travel trailers (2,800 to 3,600 pounds)

How to increase towing capacity

Keep your sights set on the s-level trims as opposed to the i-level trims to tow heavier loads with your Mazda CX-7. But if you can’t find the trim you want, you may have a few aftermarket tricks at your disposal.
Look for a weight-distributing hitch to help minimize sway and improve your CX-7’s towing efficiency. You can also try replacing your radiator with a larger one to increase your engine’s cooling and durability or upgrading your brakes to combat wear and tear.
You won’t be pushing any major boundaries of your towing capacity with these upgrades—just making slight improvements to your Mazda’s performance. If the CX-7 still isn’t meeting your towing needs, consider looking at the 2016
Lexus RX 350
(towing capacity of 3,500 pounds) or the 2014
Volkswagen Touareg
(towing capacity of 7,700 pounds).
rating reverse-full
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”

How to find affordable car insurance

Whether you’re towing your kayak fleet or cruising down Main Street, protect your Mazda CX-7 with great car insurance.
Jerry
will help you find the best possible price!  
Just download our
trustworthy insurance comparison app
for free and you’ll be browsing competitive quotes from name-brand insurers like Nationwide and Allstate in minutes. 
Pick your policy, and Jerry takes care of everything else—locking in your ultra-low rates, helping to cancel your old insurance, and shopping for quotes again when your policy is up for renewal. Sit back, relax, and join thousands of Jerry users who save an average of $800+ a year.
“When we added a new car to our family, we were shocked at how high our current insurer was going to hike our rates. We used
Jerry
for some comparison shopping and are now saving around $1,000 a year. Thank you, Jerry!” —Darius P.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
avatar
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
rating primary
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
With a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, the Mazda CX-7 can haul a canoe, kayak, or jet ski and some smaller utility trailers. You won’t be able to use a Mazda CX-7 to tow any kind of camper or travel trailer, though.
Yes, you can! Look for an aftermarket hitch like the
CURT Class 2 Trailer Hitch
with a compatible tow capacity and size.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings